Kota Kinabalu: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat said they have been trying to contact former Chief Minister Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan to testify in the ongoing Sabah Watergate scandal case but without success.
“Pairin has still not responded,” he told Sessions Judge Datuk Abu Bakar Manat. Defence counsel Datuk Ansari Abdullah also said he was trying to contact Pairin but failed.
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Ansari said another witness, Teo Chee Ming, is in New Zealand while a third, Michael Imban, is reportedly sick. The others are Mohd Padal Abdul Razak, Harris and Awang Fauzi.
Earlier, former State Infrastructure and Development Minister Datuk Seri Raymond Tan said he followed the Sabah Water Department (JANS) case in the Daily Express.
Tan was the fourth defence witness in the hearing of JANS’ former director Ag Tahir Mohd Talib and his wife Fauziah Ag Piut, as well as former deputy director Lim Lam Beng.
They face multiple charges of money laundering involving RM61.57 million, as well as unlawful possession of luxury goods between October and November 2016.
A heated exchange occurred between Tan and a member of the prosecution team after he did not answer a simple “agree or disagree” question directly. Providing instead an explanation.
MACC Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Haresh Prakash Somiah: Am I right that when you testified yesterday (Wednesday) that Jabatan Air Negeri Sabah an agency under your ministry was raided by the MACC, you must have felt a little bit surprised or shocked?
Tan said he was deeply hurt by the allegation against him. “I am under oath to tell the truth. I am here to assist the court and I am happy for the opportunity. I hope that at the end of the case there will be no evidence presented in court to support the accusation made against me.
“I am the victim and I’m being humiliated, and it is a matter of public justice for myself and my family that the truth will be revealed at the end of the case,” said Tan while holding back his tears.
Tan said this when counsel Datuk Ansari Abdullah asked whether he had anything further to say after the prosecution suggested, during cross-examination, that he had not been truthful in his earlier testimony.
He further testified during cross-examination by DPP Zander Lim that he did not have any personal issue with Kota Kinabalu Divisional Water Engineer Teo Chee Kong, during his tenure as Minister.
Lim: There was no personal issues between with you Teo during your tenure as minister?
Tan: Correct.
Lim: From your perspective, Teo had no intention to implicate you?
Tan: Just my perspective, Teo had made accusation against me in court and I do not know why he was doing it. I do not know ...it is serious accusation and hope that counsel can also help me to establish in court that it is a false claim.
Lim: Teo alleged he handed you RM500,000 in your office, it’s that his allegation?
Tan: I have explained in examination in chief. So I no need to repeat.
Lim: Can you explain why Teo who was probably an officer with a grade 48 at that time would testify that you received RM500,000?
Tan: I would like to provide the court with some background facts. I have testified yesterday that the award water project was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance.
“There is no legal authority for Teo to setup attend the committee by himself to select contractors and award water project. The narrative that there was a scheme to award water project as he presented was not correct.
Teo had presented a false narrative where the facts as presented in court show that he made false documents for the contractors to steal money from the Treasurer.
Responding to questions during cross-examination, Tan agreed that there was a meeting between him, Teo Chee Kong and Lam Bing in 2005.
However, he said it was an official meeting related to the work that the officer carried out in his office, specifically matters concerning JANS.
Asked why he did not lodge a police report after reading the allegation made by Teo, Tan said it was because there was already a trial in progress and the accusation against him had been made in open court.
The trial continues.
